Maternity and Childhood Hospitals in Yemen Have Not Been Spared by Saudi Attacks Over 12 Years

Maternity and Childhood Hospitals in Yemen Have Not Been Spared by Saudi Attacks Over 12 Years

Entesaf Organization Statement Condemning Saudi Airstrikes on the Vicinity of Al-Sabeen Maternity and Childhood Hospital in Sana’a

Sana’a – 3 October 2026

Entesaf Organization for Women and Children’s Rights strongly condemns the targeting of the vicinity of Al-Sabeen Maternity and Childhood Hospital in the capital, Sana’a, in airstrikes carried out this afternoon while the hospital was receiving patients and visitors. The attacks caused extensive damage to the hospital building, its internal departments, medical equipment and devices, and resulted in injuries among patients, companions, and medical staff, in addition to causing widespread panic among women, children, patients, and visitors.

The Organization emphasizes that targeting the vicinity of Al-Sabeen Hospital, which provides specialized maternity and childhood healthcare services, and exposing patients, medical personnel, and the healthcare facility to danger constitutes a serious violation of the special protection afforded to hospitals and medical units under international humanitarian law. Article 18 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 provides protection for civilian hospitals, while Articles 12 and 13 of Additional Protocol I provide protection for medical units and require their respect and protection against attacks.

The Organization notes that the damage inflicted on the hospital, its departments, and medical equipment threatens its ability to continue providing healthcare to women, children, and patients, particularly those requiring specialized and continuous care. The injuries sustained by patients, companions, and medical personnel, together with the state of panic inside the hospital, demonstrate the grave risks associated with exposing healthcare facilities to bombardment.

The targeting of the hospital’s vicinity coincided with a broad escalation of airstrikes on the capital, Sana’a, as Saudi-led warplanes carried out 26 airstrikes this afternoon, further increasing the risks faced by civilians and civilian and healthcare facilities.

Entesaf Organization warns of the humanitarian and health consequences of continued attacks on healthcare facilities or causing damage to them, including disruption of medical services, damage to essential equipment and critical departments, increased suffering among patients, and psychological and social consequences affecting women, children, and the most vulnerable groups.

The Organization calls on the international community, the United Nations, the Human Rights Council, and human rights and humanitarian organizations to assume their legal and humanitarian responsibilities, work to ensure respect for the special protection afforded to hospitals, healthcare facilities, and medical units, and launch an independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the targeting of the vicinity of Al-Sabeen Hospital and the resulting damage and injuries. It further calls for those responsible for violations to be held accountable in accordance with international law, ensuring redress for victims and reparation for the harm suffered.

Entesaf Organization also calls on the World Health Organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and relevant humanitarian actors to support the protection of healthcare facilities, ensure the continuity of their operations, and provide the necessary assistance to affected facilities so that they can continue delivering medical care to women, children, and patients.

The Organization renews its call for the immediate protection of civilians and healthcare facilities, respect for the rules of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and serious international measures to prevent the recurrence of attacks on medical and civilian facilities and ensure that those responsible for violations established through investigations are not allowed to escape accountability.

Issued by: Entesaf Organization for Women and Children’s Rights

3 October 2026